Websites depend on their mapping providers (like Google or Yahoo). However the API calls are proprietary so the sites are unable to easily switch between providers. Mapstraction provides a very easy way to do that if a provider was down or the TOS changed. Mapstraction is in use by several companies including Reuters and Swivel. If you’re not sure if Mapstraction will work for you check their Features page.

@christoph OpenLayers is a very good mapping library with rich features. However, many developers/users want the entire look, feel, experience of native providers – especially with capabilities like streetview, Live Bird’s eye view, traffic, or other individual features that go beyond the basic mapping capabilities.

Mapstraction provides a common way to move between the actual providers.

@Inetgate – someone from the Mapstraction development community recently noticed that as well. ‘openstat.ws’ isn’t used anywhere in the site/code. We’re looking into why this error would show up.

I’ve never been to the Mapstraction website, so it’s not limited to them. I’ve checked the source of all the tabs I have open and ‘openstat.ws’ doesn’t appear in any of them.

I’d started thinking that it may be that my instance of Firefox was infected, but the fact that Inetgate is using Chrome lowers the likelihood of that slightly. The other option is that there is some sort of ‘hidden’ virus infecting multiple websites out there.

I know design float is currently infected with something (hidden iframes injected into their pages). Perhaps my browser has been infected by that.